Welcome to Extraordinary Tech 2018 Day 13. Join Buchanan, Joelle, Mike and myself on our adventures as we test out some of the best tech available in 2018. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we’ll be showcasing devices that came with us on a cross-country trip this summer, ranging from an outdoor speaker that will change the way you think of sound to a smartwatch that offers the best fitness features at an affordable price. Along the way, we’ll be hosting giveaways of some of the tech featured in this series, so stay tuned!

My alarm blared. It was 5am. Wide-eyed, heart beating fast, I knew today was the day.

I knew the average. I remembered the goal. I could see the summit. One more swim. One more run. One more ride. That’s all I needed to get there.

I grabbed my swim gear, laced up my running shoes, and looked up – it was time to reach a higher summit.

With the motivation at an all time high, I checked my Garmin Forerunner 735xt and started the timer.

It was go big or go home. And go I did. Running as fast as I could and as far as I could. Sweat rolled down my face as the miles flew by. It was painful, but every time I wanted to stop I’d glance at my wrist to see the unremitting time. It reminded me that I wasn’t quite there, that I needed more time, more miles, more cardio. And that gave me motivation to go on.

To me, the Garmin Forerunner 735xt was all about data driven improvement. For a short-term run and workout, the 735xt gave me incredibly accurate data. When swimming, not only did the pace and stroke count match what I knew was true, but it also distinguished automatically between different stroke styles. Likewise, my heart rate, route, and miles per hour were similarly accurate when running and biking.

After a while, all that data is compiled and presented in an aesthetically pleasing and easy to digest way. Via the dedicated Garmin browser portal or app, I saw my progression – week after week, month after month – laid out, showing both volume of activity and trends.

Data doesn’t lie. If I wanted to get my personal record, surpass that summit, I needed to keep moving.

In the face of unrelenting data, I had no excuses. My effort today would lead me to my goals for tomorrow.

Bottom Line:

The Garmin Forerunner 735xt is not for everyone. But that’s not a bad thing. If you’re looking for a simple tracker to tell time, count steps, or keep track of your heartbeat, there are more inexpensive options to look at. If you’re looking for a watch that can act like a phone, built with voice chat capabilities, there are smartwatches that specialize in that.

However, if you’re looking to up your game and center fitness in your life, Garmin watches are the way to go. Not only does the Garmin Forerunner 735xt come programmed with exceptional fitness tracking abilities, it’s also uses data gathered to intelligently update weekly goals.

While data driven fitness trackers aren’t new, Garmin can automatically collect data that is more diverse, accurate, and expansive than the information its competitors offer. How many smartwatches boast seamless fitness tracking between running, swimming, and biking, incredibly accurate tracking features, and battery life capable of lasting a full triathlon?

The answer: not many and not nearly as good as Garmin does. There’s a reason why the Garmin 735xt is famous among triathletes.

So if you’re looking to make your fitness goals a reality, Garmin is the first tool you need.

The Extraordinary Tech series was produced in partnership with Xperi. We were not compensated by Garmin Ltd. for this review. The Garmin Forerunner 735xt is available at buy.garmin.com starting at $349.99.